Cronic right speaker intermittency

[PTMonty]

I need help finding the common connection for the right side speakers.

I have owned my 2001 PT from day one. Several years ago the front and and rear RIGHT SIDE speakers (other than the dash tweeter) became intermittent. I lived with it for a long time. When I decided to deal with it I decided the radio was most likely the issue. I did remove it and work all of the wires individually and was never able to get the right side to re-animate (visions of Young Frankenstein).

A little research led me to also blame the radio, so it made sense to upgrade in the process. Since I cut my teeth in the audio arena and felt confident I diagnosed it correctly I ordered an upgrade. Needless to say I have the same trouble.

There must be a COMMON point (connector buried somewhere?) where the right side front AND rear speakers (not the tweeter) could fail other than at the connections to the head unit. I have wiggled the connections enough to decide the intermittent problem is most likely is not there (could be convinced by anothers experience) because it still randomly works.

Any hints would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

Monty
Mid-Missouri

[chris15]

Since you're reporting intermittent failures it's difficult to give an exact diagnosis of the problem. Other than the stereo itself, to my knowledge, the front and rear speakers do not come into contact with one another in the wiring aspect of things. You may simply be looking at blown speakers or speakers that are in the process of failing. Have you noticed a different in sound quality from prior to having the problem to now?

[PTMonty]

I dug into it this after noon after looking at the service manual schematics to find any inline connector locations.

You are correct, the schematic shows no common connectors so I checked the easy inline connections in the right kick panel. It was fine so I took the skin off the front right door an lo and behold the speaker was disconnected all together. Probably why that speaker has been silent all together for a while. It did work when I hooked it back up. I don't want to replace them right now anyway.

I dug into the rear and it was connected at least so I tested the speaker with a small battery and it was dead.

A quick trip to Best Buy for a pair of 6x8s and we are back running!

Thanks again for the reply.

Monty

[chris15]

So, I was half right!

I had the same problem when I installed my Polk components up front. I had soldered all of my connections, put the dash back together, worked great in my driveway. Took her for a test drive, and on turns, etc. the left tweeter would cut out. Was pissed to all hell, left it for the night, disassembled it all the next day to find that the soldered negative connection had broken, but because I had used such short leads, the wire was still in contact with the connector, so when I would turn, the wire would move, disconnect, and then would reconnect when I came out of the turn. Funny now, but I was pissed at the time.

Anyway, glad things worked out for you!